title: Variation in the composition of the essential oils, phenolic compounds and mineral elements of Hypericum perforatum L. growing in Estonia.
abstract: A comprehensive investigation of the chemical composition of the aerial parts of Hypericum perforatum L. collected in three habitations in Estonia was carried out. An analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-flame ionisation detection established the main components of the essential oils. The phenolic compounds both in ethanol and water extracts of the plant were analysed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and capillary zone electrophoresis. In addition to the earlier published polyphenols, several new phenolic acids and flavonoids, such as quercetin hexoside malonates and an A-type catechin-epicatechin trimer were identified in this Hypericum for the first time. The contents of the pharmaceutically important antidepressants hyperforin and hypericin were also estimated by LC-MS and compared with the data in the literature. The composition of the mineral elements was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results of the study demonstrate a rather high variability in the content of different substance groups in H. perforatum L. and, hence, the need for a survey of the raw material in the course of selection of raw materials for pharmaceutical preparations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 15, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia. helmja@staff.ttu.ee
authors.forename: Kati
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Helmja
authors.forename: Merike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaher
authors.forename: Tõnu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Püssa
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orav
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viitak
authors.forename: Tuuli
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Levandi
authors.forename: Mihkel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaljurand
mesh_terms: D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D004957:Estonia; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000032:analysis; D020902:Hypericum / Q000737:chemistry*; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis*; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; D008903:Minerals; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010636:Phenols; C017616:phenolic acid